12^th September 2003

PRESS RELEASE

Green Party calls on Government to examine proposed changes to UK drug laws

The Green Party has called on the Irish Government to examine the proposed changes in the UK's drug laws.

The British Home Secretary, David Blunkett MP,  has issued new guidelines on drug offences. From next year cannabis will be reclassified from a Category B to a Category C drug.  Cannabis users caught by police will escape with a warning and the drugs will be confiscated. People will only be arrested in certain circumstances such as smoking in public view, having the drug around children or for being habitual users. This will free up police time in the war against Class A drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine.

Green Party Justice spokesperson,  Ciarán Cuffe TD,  said today,  "We should examine the proposed changes in the UK. Of course a drug-free lifestyle is the ideal, but policing techniques and court sentencing should reflect the relative damage incurred on the individual and society."

"As a new report shows that smoking kills five million people worldwide every year, we should be rethinking our approach to all drugs that are used by recreational users.”